GREENSBORO, N.C. – Erika Barquero returned to the court with a bang over the weekend as the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) women's tennis team finally started its 2022 season.
 
In her first competitive tennis match for UNCG in 698 days, the senior kinesiology major teamed with senior Ariana Chan to win at No. 1 doubles, 6-2, during the Spartans' setback to Davidson last Saturday.
 
UNCG won't have to wait long to return to action as it hosts North Carolina Central Wednesday at 1 p.m. Even in defeat, the Spartans are confident they will enjoy a nice season. The match will be played on campus as its supposed to be a balmy 59 degrees and sunny at match time.
 
"It felt really good being back on court and competing with my team after almost two years without playing," Barquero said. "I think we are a talented group with a lot of potential. This last match made us realize we all have specific things to work on. Everyone competed at a high level and I'm sure we will get to perform at our max as the season goes."
 
Ironically, Barquero's last competitive match was against NCCU on March 10, 2020. It was UNCG's final match before the sports world was halted and seasons canceled because of COVID-19. In that match, the Spartans claimed a 7-0 win with Barquero leading the way with wins at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.
 
At the time of the season stoppage, Barquero was tied for a team best seven wins in singles play, along with another five wins in doubles play. She was named to the All-Southern Conference freshman team after winning 10 matches. 
 
A Look At UNCG

• This is UNCG's home opener.
• Dating back to last season, UNCG has won two consecutive home matches.
• Chan and Eugenia Camacho dropped three set singles matches against Davidson.
• Even though they dropped their singles match, sophomore Juliana Craft and Barquero each forced a tiebreaker in one of the sets.
• Craft and McCullough Perry battled at No. 2 doubles falling in a 7-5 affair.
• Perry along with fellow freshmen Olivia Gallagher and Hannah Mitchell made their collegiate debuts. 

A Look At North Carolina Central

• The Eagles are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
• NCCU won three matches in 2021.
• North Carolina Central dropped a 7-0 decision to Coastal Carolina last Saturday.
• Jade Houston is the Eagles' top player.
• She lost a three-set decision at No. 1 singles, 4-6, 6-1, 10-5.
• Rounding out the Eagles singles lineup against Coastal Carolina was freshman No. 2 Kennedy Hill, sophomore No. 3 Maria Picazo, freshman No. 4 Isabelle Exsted, freshman No. 5 Lafi Joao (L, 6-4, 6-2) and freshman No. 6 Anaiah Jones (6-0, 6-0).

Last Meeting

• UNCG defeated NCCU, 6-1, in Durham on March 10, 2021.
• Craft, Camacho and Hanna Giddings were winners for the Spartans last season against NCCU.
• Houston was a winner at No. 3 singles last year against the Spartans. 

Up Next

• The Spartans travel to East Carolina on Sunday for a 1 p.m. match.